Toys for Tubs Campaign – Huge Success

The RTÉ 2fm Toys for Tubs appeal provided the Society of St. Vincent de Paul with over €250,000 worth of toys to help Santa share with almost 20,000 children last Christmas.

“The response to the campaign was just tremendous. It showed the level of generousity and consideration the Irish people possess”, said SVP National President Mairead Bushnell”. RTÉ 2fm’s Ryan Tubridy and his production team are to be congratulated on their initiative in driving the appeal and the prompt response of the many organisations who jumped in to help with the collection of the toys was uplifting”, she said.

All ages were catered for from tots to teens, with vouchers for books, music and cinema arriving in good numbers. The variety of collection points through Irish Rail, SuperValue, Experts Hardware and the Self-Storage Association members along with the SVP network of volunteers ensured that children and teens throughout the country had a Christmas gift.

“The collection and distribution arrangements meant that toys donated locally stayed locally’, said Mairead Bushnell. “We are also grateful that in the vast majority of cases the toys donated were of a very good quality, which was important in ensuring that Santa was able to treat all children equally. Our volunteers worked tirelessly in the weeks coming up to Christmas to make certain that everything donated went to deserving children”, she said.

RTÉ 2fm presenter Ryan Tubridy said:

“The Toys for Tubs campaign proved that Irish people remain generous and fundamentally decent despite the difficulties we are encountering as a nation. The fact that toys donated by the public ended up in the hands of children all over Ireland was all the more significant. As we said at the time, all children must be recession-proof and hopefully, we helped the SVP achieve, at least partially, that aim.”